Racecards
16:00 Huntingdon
Frank McAvennie Barleylands Farm Shop Handicap Hurdle (Class C)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
Hot Shots (FR)
142- Form UU12P-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on no chance with winner
Volano (FR)
132- Form 04F-05P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leader, led 3rd, clear when hit last, comfortably
Saspys Lad
392- Form 12F011-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer W Brisbourne
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
Sun King
184- Form 1232P0-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey Mr O Nelmes
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 4135-32
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J Spearing
- Jockey H Oliver
held up, effort 3 out, weakened next
Cool Roxy
161- Form 12216-6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A Blackmore
- Jockey C Honour
led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened next
In depth
Verdict
Saspys Lad has a long absence to overcome but has the form to bounce back under Tony McCoy, with Volano and Bitter Sweet offering the most resistance. Bought after finishing third in a Market Rasen seller over two years ago, Saspys Lad has been placed to win four times over hurdles by Mark Brisbourne. He has adopted a patient approach with the six-year-old who has been absent since scoring at Southwell in September 2002. Even so, his form stands out amongst this lot, with Volano pulled up on his last outing at Stratford in May. Nicky Henderson's charge will probably find conditions too fast anyway, and a bigger danger may be Bitter Sweet who has been kept busy on the Flat. Although needing to brush up his jumping judged on his return to hurdling at Market Rasen, he has fitness on his side and will not go down without a fight. However, Saspys Lad has the champion in the plate and that can make all the difference.